Catherwood LibraryILR School

Construction of a new bridge spanning Lake Champlain and connecting New York Vermont will not require a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) despite New York efforts to find a PLA that would work for Vermont as well. Both states admittedly want to work as fast as possible on the bridge because of the significant traffic problems the construction will cause, and are trying to have a contract established by May 7. Requiring a PLA would force a new round of contractor bidding and would most certainly delay the project. There was some controversy in deciding what to do about a PLA, with New York construction unions pushing for an agreement and non-unionized companies as well as the Associated General Contractors of New York organization opposing. New York unions said a PLA would ensure labor peace and save money. The opposition said a PLA would cost money, and freeze non-unionized companies out of the bid process entirely.